Flat full-fashioned knitting machine



Aug. 22, 1939. K. R. LIEBERKNECHT 2,170,148

FLAT FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1937 6 Sheets Sheet 2 ILIZ'IIIIIZIII 1:111:11:"

Aug. 22, 1939. K. R. LIEBERKNECHT 2,170,143

I FLAT FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1937 Aug 2 2, 1939. K. R. LIEBERKNECHT A I 2,170,148

FLAT FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 22, 1939 K. R. LIEBERKNECHT 2,170,148

FLAT FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1937 6 Shets-Sheet 5 Wwss uenzor K. R. LIEBERKNECHT 2,170,148

FLAT FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE 7 Filed May 5, 1937 6 Sheets-Shet 6 o 0 0 0 9 0 0 O 0 0 v o 0M 6 0M0 0M0000000000000000000000000000000 0 0 0 00000003200803 nnonuen 000000 0 0 0 v 0 0 00 0 0 000000008800800000000000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 m0 0 0 0 0 e 0 000000 008000 0 000 000 owe 0M0000000000000000000000000000000 00 0 0 000000 000000 0 0%0 0 0 00008000000000000000000000 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 Aug. 22, 1939.

Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNlTED STATES PATENT- OFFICE FLAT FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE Karl Richard Lieberkne'cht, Oberlungwitz, Germany, assignor to Kalio, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 5, 1937, Serial No. 140,849

" 7 Claims. (oi. 66-96) The present invention relates to flat full-fashconstructed and arranged to control for this ioned knitting machines, and more particularly purpose, different sets of loop lifting points. to improvements in mechanism for controlling The several features of the invention consist V and shifting the several groups of loop lifting also in the devices, combinations and arrangepoints for producing picot, lacework, clock and ment of parts hereinafter described and claimed, 5 similar decorative effects in knitted hosiery. which together with the advantages to be ob- In the production of design work, and more tained thereby, will be readily understood by one particularly in the production of symmetrical skilled in the art from the following description clock designs, it has been found desirable to protaken in connection withv the p y n 1'0 vide mechanism for producing simultaneous w ngs, in wh 118 a sectional V in movements of the lace points forming these left side elevation of a flat full-fashioned knit- I clocks in equal and opposite directions. To this ing machine embodying in a Preferred form the end, mechanisms have been provided as, for exfeatures of pp invention; Fig. 2 is an ample, in the patent to Richter No. 2,059,806, enlarged detail view of the transfer points illusdated November 3, 1936, to positively connect trated in Fig. '1, but with the lace points moved 15 the lace point carrier rods through a reversing Out 01 the y, and the m point in n motion, so that the movement of one lace rod eting Position; 3 is an enlarged front elevawill cause an equal and opposite movement to tion p t y in Sec 01 pp improved take place in the. operation of the other lace rod. e meehenism; 4 1S 8 Pl View go It is a principal object of the present inven-- stantially the pa t hO 5 is a tion to provide .a simplified a d i r d patleft side elevation of substantially the parts tern control mechanism for controlling simulta wn in Fi 3 and F 6 i a sectional neously the positions of reversely movable lace. detail View taken on the line of illusrods and points supported thereon for the prorat n' pa u y certain p t s of th m duction of designs, symmetrical with relation to 151011 reversing e sm for the lace bar OOn- 25 a center line of the fabric, which is simple and Pusher elements; is a a ed sturdy in construction, being wholly supported on fragmentary plan w Of the Slideble p s the fixed portion 01 th ma hi f m d proing element and certain of the associated parts vides a maximum flexibility of control f r th shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a detail view in front formation of decorative designs, elevation partly in section, illustrating particu- 30 Itis a further object of the invention to so lally the transfer Shift meehehism, d w t construct and arrange the pattern control hthe main cam shaft in knitting position; Fig, 9

anism above referred to, as to permit its use for is 8 a a y detail v w u t a a posisecuring decorative effects other than the sym- M the Parts with the cam Shaft shifted to metrical designs above described, and more parnarrowing Position, and with the D t ansfer 5 ticularly for the formation of the picot. shift mechanism set to make a left transfer of with th other objects invlew, as may the lifted loops; Fig. 10 is a detail view similar hereinafter appear, one feature of the invention to 9, but .with the Shift mechanism PO51- consists in the provision of an improved lace tioned for a right transfer of the lifted loops;

point pattern control mechanism comprising two Fig. 11 is a somewhat fragmentary view in frontv 40 slidable control or pusher l t which are elev'ation illustrating particularly the connections supported on the machine fram t engage with from the main pattern chain of the machine for and position the respective l point bars, means throwing the lace mechanism into and out of for moving said control elements one from the operation; and sillustrates a t pical lace other in opposite directions, and a single patdesign havihgtwe Clocks y i ea y' d 45 tern control positioning device for imparting the with elation to h centerline of the stocking desired positioning movements to the control blankv elements. The machine disclosed in the drawings as em- Another feature of the invention consists in yin in aprefe ed form-t e seve a e ures the provision of a single lacepoint pattern shift of applicant's invention, comprises a multiple mechanism of this general description having section fiat full-fas o ed knitting machine I associated therewithtwo separate pattern chains which may be of ordinary des p comprising which may be alternatively rendered operative a series of transverse frames 20 on which are for the formation of decorative patterns in difcarried the usual top rail 22, bottom rail 24, back ferent portions of the stocking, and are further rail 26, and a work supporting table 28. 'Ifhe 55 machine is also provided with the usual main cam shaft 30 running the length of the machine, together with a number of supporting a1 d operating shafts for various operating machine elements which will be described only as found necessary to illustrate the several features of applicants invention in connection with this machine.

The knitting instrumentalities associated with each section include a series of needles 32 movable as a unit, individually movable yarn measuring sinkers 34 and knockovers 36 which have the usual construction and mode of operation of these elements in machines of the general type disclosed. The machine is further provided with a narrowing machine which is of ordinary description comprising a number of supporting arms 40 pivotally supported at spaced intervals along the length of the machine on a shaft 42, and rigidly connected at their forward ends by means of a rod 44 to form the narrowing machine frame. The rod 44 has rigidly secured thereto a number of brackets 46 in which the narrowing point rods generally designated at 48 are slidably mounted, and brackets such as those designated at 50 and 52 in Fig. 3, journalled to receive a picot rod 54 and lace point rods 56 and 58. In accordance with the usual practice, a picot bar 60 is provided for each knitting section supported on picot rod 54, together with two lace point units 62 and 64 mounted respectively 'on the lace rods 56 and 58. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lace point units 62 and 64 have been moved downwardly into operating position, and the picot bar 60 has been raised to inoperative position. When it is desired to bring the picot bar 60 into operating position, the lace point units 62 and 64 are raised, and the picot bar 60 swung downwardly into operating position as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to control the positions of the picot bars 60 and lace point units 62 and 64 lengthwise of the machine, two .control elements in the form of pusher or stop members 66 and 68 are provided, the pusher member 66 being arranged in close proximity to the picot rod 54 and lace point rod 58, for engagement against stop members I0 and I2 secured respectively to these rods, the pusher member 68 being similarly arranged in close proximity to lace rod 56 for engagement against a stop 14 secured to rod 56. Compression spring I6 coiled about rod 54 between the stop I0 and supporting bracket 52, and similarly, a compression spring I8 coiled about rod 58 between the stop I2 and supporting bracket 52, operate to maintain these rods at all times in their extreme position to the left as shown in Fig. 3, against the pusher member 66. A compression spring 80 coiled about rod 56 between the stop I4 and supporting bracket 50 operates to maintain the stop I4 against the pusher 68.

The pusher member 66 is secured to a bracket 84 which is in turn rigidly secured to a shaft 86 slidably supported in bearings formed in fixed bearing supports 88 and 89 (see Figs. 4 and '7). In order to provide additional support for the bracket 84, the bracket is sleeved also to slide freely on a parallel shaft 92 which is in turn supported to move axially in bearings formed in the fixed bearing bracket 88, and in an additional bracket 94. The pusher member 68 is similarly supported on a bracket 96rigidly securedto an axially movable shaft 98 slidably supported in alignment with the shaft 86 in bearings formed in; the supports 89 and 94. The bracket 96 has formed thereon a forward extension sleeved to receive the shaft 92 which forms a slide support for the bracket.

It will be noted more particularly from an inspection of Fig. 5, that the pusher members 66 and 68 supported as above described, on a fixed portion of the machine, are so shaped as to permit relative vertical movements of the narrowing machine frame carrying the picot rod 54 and the lace point rods 56 and 58, while at all times maintaining engagement with the stop lugs or collars secured to the respective rods.

In accordance with the present invention, a

- simplified and improved pattern control mechanism is provided cooperating with the pusher members 66 and 68 above described, which may be rendered operative to impart the desired positioning movements to the picot points 60, or alternatively to impart equal and opposite positioning movements to'the lace points for the formation of symmetrical clock or similar lace designs in the fabric.

In the preferred form of the invention shown, the control mechanism referred to, comprises a positioning member or bracket I00 (see Figs. 3, 4, '7 and 8) which is rigidly secured to move with the sliding bar 92, and is provided with four stops I02 arranged for engagement with the steps of four stepped segment pattern levers I04. The stops I02 are slightly'offset from one another to provide four sub-divisions of the spacing provided by each of the steps formed in the levers I04. Movements are imparted from the positioning bracket I00 to the pusher members 66 and 68 through connections including a loop transfer shift mechanism which acts during the narrowing operation to shift the pusher members in opposite directions a distance of one needle to eifect the transfer of the lifted loops either inwardly or outwardly on the needle series as desired. With the present construction, movements of the positioning bracket I00 are directly transmitted to the supporting bracket 84 for the pusher member 66, which movements are transmitted to effect an equal and opposite movement of the supporting bracket 96 through a reversing motion device (see Fig. 4) comprising two racks I06 and I08 secured respectively to the brackets 84 and 96, and a pinion IIO engaging therewith pivoted on a fixed portion of the machine. A tension spring II2 connected between the bracket 84 and a point on the machine frame, acts to force the bracket 84 always to the left. Similarly, a spring II4 connected between the bracket 96 and a point on the machine frame, tends to force the bracket 96 always to the right. in order to take up any play which may exist in the rack and pinion connection, and to maintain the brackets and pushers supported thereby accurately in operating position.

The position of the bracket 84 is directly controlled from the positioning member I00 through a loop transfer shift mechanism comprising a stepped cam lever II6 pivotally supported on a bracket I I8 secured to move with the positioning member I00 on the slide shaft 92, and arranged for engagement with a cam roll I20 on the pusher bracket 84. The springs H2 and H4 operate to maintain the roll I20 at all times in engagement with the cam lever I I6, and thereby to cause the pusher brackets 84 and 96 to follow the movements of the positioning member I00. The shift cam lever H6 is maintained in the full line position illustrated in Fig. 8 during the movements of the positioning member I00 as hereinafter described, to bring the pushers'66 and 68 and points is then moved upwardly to effect a right transfer of the lifted loops, or downwardly to eflect a left transfer of the lifted loops through connections which include a link I24 (see Figs. 3, and 8) con- 'nected at its upper end to the shift cam lever II8,

and at its lower end to the forward end of a hori- 6 .vided with a roller I28 shiftably supported on a pivot pin I30. During normal knitting, the roller I28 rides on an idler, disk I32, and is arranged upon the shogging of .the main cam shaft 30 to the right to narrowing position, to engage alternatively with a cam I34 for effecting a right transfer of the lifted loops, or for engagement with cam I38 for effecting a left transfer of the lifted loops. From an inspection of Figs.- 8, 9 and 10, it will readily be seen that the raising of the shift lever II8 under the influence of cam I34, will cause roller I on bracket 84 to ride on the stepped portion of the lever II8 to move the bracket 84 and the parts associated therewith relatively to the right. movement of the shift lever II8 fromthe full line position shown in. Fig. 8 under the influence of theleft transfer cam I38, will cause the roller I20 to ride off the lever II8, causing the bracket 84 and parts associated therewith, to move to the left under the influence of spring II2, a distance of one tooth, when further movement of the bracket 84 is arrested by engagement of a stop screw I38 on the bracket H8.

The pattern mechanism provided for control ling the positioning member I00 to produce the desired design efiects in'the knitting of the stocking, comprises the four pattern stepped segment lace border in the welt, the lace chain I44 being provided for the formation of thesymmetrical clock design in the leg portion of the fabric. The pattern chain I42 carries thereon pattern but,- tons I48 which may be located on the chain to be brought into alignment with any one of four stop screws I48 carried on the upper side of the heel portion of each of the four levers I 04, and thereby to position the proper step of the selected lever I04 for engagement with the corresponding stop I 02 on the positioning member I00. The pattern chain I44 is similarly provided with pattern buttons I50 which may be of difierent lengths, and are similarly arranged to be positioned beneath any one of the four stop screws I52 which In the preferred construction shown, a simpli-.

fied and improved racking mechanism is provided I for imparting stepby-step advancing movements to each of the pattern chains in timed relation to the rotation of the main camshaft 30 of the machine, which comprises a cam lever I14 having a roller I18 adapted for engagement with either of two cams I18 or I19 on the main cam shaft 30.

The lever I14 is pivotally supported at its rear end Similarly, a downward on the pivot shaft I21, and at its forward end is connected by a vertically extending link I 80 to a pawl lever I82 which carries a pawl I84 for engagement with a ratchet I88 secured to turn with the drum I 82.- The pawl lever I82 is in turn con- 'nected through link I81 to a pawl lever I88 which is mounted co-axially with the drum I54 and carries a pawl I90 for engagement with a ratchet I92 secured to turn with the drum I54. The drums I84 and I82are rigidly secured respectively to rotatable shafts I93 and I94 which are provided at their forward ends with hand levers I98 and I98 to permit the operator conveniently to rack the chains to starting position. In the operation of the machine, only one of the chains I42 and I44 is in operation at one time, it being necessary for the operator to shift the pawls I90 and I84 alternatively into and out of operative.

position. At the start of the knitting on a new stocking, the pawl' I90 is placed in operation and the pawl I84 is thrown out. After the completion of the welt portion of the stocking including the lace border in the welt, the pawl I90 is disconnected and the pawl I84 is dropped into engagement with the ratchet I88.

Prior to each racking of either of the chains I42 or I44, the positioning member I00 is moved to the right'against the pressure of springs H2, H4, and the four patternllevers I04 are raised against the pressure of their springs I99 to perinit the positioning of the next pattern button beneath one of the levers I04 through mechanism which comprises a cam lever 200 supported at its rear end on therock shaft I21, and having a cam roller 202 arranged for engagement with either of two cams 204 or 208 on the main cam shaft .30. At its forward end the cam lever 200 is connected by a link 208 to one arm of the bell-crank 2I0, the other arm of which carries a roller 2I2 engaging with a contacting surface formed on the left side of the positioning member I00. These connections operate upon upward movement of the cam lever 200 under the influence of its cam, to move the positioning member I00 to the right out of engagement with the stepped segment portion of the levers I04.

The rising movement of the cam lever 200 is rendered operative also to move the levers I04 to a ra sed position through connections which include a cam lever 2| 4 supported at its forward end on a depending bracket M8 on the machine frame, and provided with a roller 2I8 which rests against the upper side of the. cam lever vided at its upper end with a contacting surface 222 for engagement with the under side of each of the levers I04.

The pattern mechanism above described, op erates also to control the position of the shiftable roller I28 associated with the loop transfer cam lever I28, to cause the roller I28 to engage with cam I34 to effect a right transfer of the lifted loops, or alternatively with cam I36 to effect a left transfer of the lifted loops. The mechanism for shifting the roller I28 comprises a shifting fork 223 connected at its lower end to the roller I28, and at its upper end to an axially movable shift rod 224 which is in turn acted upon by a bell-crank lever 225 supported'to turn on a fixed pivot 228. One arm of the bell-crank 225 is arranged to engage against a collar 221 on the shift rod 224, the other arm being connected by a link 228 to a pattern lever 229 which is supported on the pivot shaft I40 in parallel relation to the stepped segment pattern levers I04, and is similarly provided with stops for engagement with pattern buttons on either of the pattern chains I42 or I44. A tension spring 230 attached to the outer end of the pattern lever 229, tends normally to maintain the lever in a low position against the contact surface 222 of plunger 220. The shift rod 224 is normally maintained in a limiting position to the right by means of a tension spring 23I connected between one arm of the bell-crank 225 and a collar 232 on the shift rod 224. Assuming that the lifted loops are to be transferred to the right, the pattern lever 229 is permitted to move to its limiting low position, with the plunger 220, rocking the bell-crank 225, so that the shift rod 224 and roller I28 controlled thereby are shifted to an extreme position to the left into engagement with the right transfer cam I34 as shown in Fig. 10. If, on the other hand, a left transfer of the lifted loops is to be effected, a bump on the active pattern chain I42 or I44, is brought beneath the corresponding stop on the pattern lever 229 to maintain this lever in its raised position, thus preventing the movement of the bellcrank 225, and causing the roller I28 to be aligned with the left transfer cam I36, as shown in Fig. 9.

' The operation of the pattern mechanism above described, is controlled automatically from the main pattern chain 233 of the machine through connections which are arranged when rendered operative to lock each of the cam levers in a raised inoperative position out of the path of their respective cams, including cam lever for freeing the stepped segment levers I 04, the cam lever I14 for racking the lace pattern chain, and the cam lever I26 for producing a left or right transfer. To this end-a laterally extending supporting member 234 is provided having formed thereon lugs for engagement beneath the forwardly extending ends of the cam levers I26, 200 and I14. The supporting member 234 is supported at one end on a depending link 235 and at its other end on a link 236 which is connected to a control rod 238 to an upwardly extending arm of a pattern chain lever 240 associated with the main pattern chain 233 of the machine. A compression spring 242 coiled about the control rod 238 between a collar 244 on the control rod and a stationary bracket 248,, tends normally to starting position by manual operation of the cranks I96 and I98, and the pawl I90 for racking the picot chain I42 is dropped into operative position. The lace mechanism is then brought into operationautomatically by the engagement of a bump on the main pattern chain 233 which operates through the connections above described, to shift the supporting member 234 to the right, thus causing each of the cam levers I14, 200 and I26 associated with the lace pattern mechanism, to be, brought into. operative relation with their respective cams. As the main cam shaft is now shogged to the right, to bring the narrowing machine into operation in accordance with the usual practice, the cam. roller I16 associatedwith' lever I14 is moved from the idler roll I19 onto the racking cam I18, roller 202 associated with cam lever 200 is moved from its idling disk 208 onto its actuating cam 204,

and cam roller I28 is moved to the left from the idling disk I32 onto the left shift cam I36. During the, subsequent rotation of the main cam shaft 30, the cam lever 200 is raised, acting through the connections above described, to move the positioning member I00 to the right out of engagement with the stepped levers I04 which are now moved to their fully raised position, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Finally, the cam lever I14 is raised to effect a racking of the pattern chain I42. Assuming that the pattern chain I42 has been racked into a position in which the picot bar is to effect a transfer of the loops, a bump I46 on chain I 42 is brought into alignment with a stop I48 associated with one of the levers I04, which is thus positioned to bring the proper step of the selected lever I04 into engagement with the corresponding stop I02 on the positioning member I00, as this member is again permitted to move to the left under the influence of its spring II2 by the downward movement of cam lever 200. At the same time, the positioning of the pattern shift lever 229 supported with levers I04 on pivot shaft I40, operates to position a roller I28 in alignment with one of the cams I34 or I36 to effect a right or left shift of the picot points and loops supported thereon, as may be desired.

After the completion of the welt portion of the fabric and the formation of the lace border on the welt, the pawl I for operating the pattern chain I42,is disconnected, and the pawl I84 for forming the clock design is dropped into operative position. At this time the operator also swings the picot bars 80 upwardly to the inoperative position shown in Fig. l, and moves the lace point units 82 and 64 downwardly into operative position. When the lace pattern mechanism is again thrown into operation by the engagement of a button on the main pattern chain 233 of the machine with pattern lever 240, the pattern mechanism will operate in the identical manner above described, under'the control of the pattern chain I44 to produce simultaneous positioning movements of the lace point bars 56 and. 58 in equal and opposite directions, and will then cause the lifted loops to be transferred inwardly or outwardly as desired for the formation of the clock design shown in Fig. 12, in which the two clocks formed are symmetrical with relation to a center line of the stocking blank. The double row of markings may be readily formed in each clock by the well known expedient of two successive narrowing operations with an interven ing shift of the lace points 62 and 84 controlled as above described, by the lace point pattern mechanism.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In a flat full-fashioned knitting machine having a narrowing machine frame and a plurality of lace point carrier bars supported thereby, 1

the combination of two control elements supported for movement lengthwise on a stationary portion of the machine frame, operating connecsaid control elements one from the other in opposite directions, a single positioning member connected to impart positioning movements to one of said control elements, and a lace pattern mechanism for imparting successive positioning movements to said member.

2. In 'a flat full-fashioned knitting machine having a narrowing machine frame and a plurality of lace point carrier bars supported therecluding a'loop transfer shift device for imparting positioning movements to one of said control elements, and a lace pattern mechanism for imparting successive positioning movements to said positioning member.

3. In a flat full-fashioned knitting machin having a narrowing machine frame and a plurality of lace point carrier bars supported thereby, the combination of two control elements supported for movement lengthwise of the machine, operating connections between certain of said bars and one of said control elements, and between other of said bars and the second control element for imparting lengthwise positioning movements to said bars, a motion reversing mechanism for moving said control elements one from the other in opposite directions,'a single positioning member .connected to impart positioning movements to one ofsaid control elements, a lace pattern mechanism for imparting successive positioning movements to said positioning member comprising a plurality of pattern chains, and means for rendering said chains selectively operable to impart positioning movements to said positioning member.

4. In a flat full-fashioned knitting machine having a narrowing machine frame and a plurality of lace point carrier bars supported thereby, the combination of two control elements supported for movement lengthwise on a stationary portion of the machine frame, operating connections between certain of said bars and one of said control elements, and between other of said bars and the second control element for imparting lengthwise positioningmovements to said bars, a motion reversing mechanism for moving said control elements one from the other in opposite directions, a single positioning member for positioning said control elements and lace points controlled thereby for lifting loops from selected needles, connections from said positioning member including a loop transfer shift device for imparting positioning movements to one of said control elements, and a lace pattern mechanism comprising a. plurality ofpattern chains, and means for rendering said chains selectively operable to impart positioning movements to said positioning member.

5.-In a fiat full-fashioned knitting machine having a narrowing machine frame and a pin-- rality of lace point carrier bars supported thereby, the combination of two control elements supported for movement lengthwise on a stationary portion of the machine frame, operating connections between certain of said bars and one of said control elements, and between other of said bars and the second control element for imparting lengthwise positioning movements to said bars, a motion reversing mechanism for moving said control elements one from the other in opposite directions, a single positioning member for positioning said control elements and lace points controlled thereby for lifting loops from selected needles, connections from said positioning member including a loop transfer shift device for shifting said control elements to effect a right or lefttransfer of the lifted loops for imparting positioning movements to one of said control elements, a lace pattern mechanism comprising a plurality of pattern chains, and means for rendering said chains selectively operable to impart positioning movements to said-position ing member and to determine the direction of transfer of the lifted loops.

6. In a fiat full-fashioned knitting machinehaving a narrowing machine frame and a plurality of lace point carrier bars supported thereby, the combination of two control elements supported for movement lengthwise of the machine,

tioning movements to one of said control elements, and a pattern mechanism for imparting successive positioning movements to said positioning member comprising a picot pattern chain, a lace point pattern chain, and means for rendering said chains selectively operable to impart positioning movements to said positioning member.

'7. In a flat full-fashioned knitting machine having a narrowing machine frame and a plurality of lace point carrier bars supported thereby, the combination of two control elements supported for movement lengthwise of the machine, operating connections between certain of said bars and one of said control elements, and

between other of said bars and the second control element for imparting lengthwise positioning movements to said bars, a motion reversingv mechanism for moving said control elements one from the other in opposite directions, a single positioning member connected to impart positioning movements to one of said control elements, a lace pattern mechanism for imparting successive positioning movements to said positioning member comprising a plurality of stepped segment pattern levers, two pattern chains selectively operable for controlling the positions of said levers, mechanism for racking eachof said chains, and means under the control of the operator for connecting said racking mechanism to rack selectively one or the other of said chains.

KARL RICHARD LIEBERKNECHT. 

